McCaskill endorses Hillary Clinton presidential effort

Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill, an early backer of Barack Obama in 2008, on Tuesday announced her backing of Ready for Hillary, a group encouraging the former secretary of state to run for president in 2016.

Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill, an early backer of Barack Obama in 2008, on Tuesday announced her backing of Ready for Hillary, a group encouraging the former secretary of state to run for president in 2016.

McCaskill, who was re-elected to a second term in 2012, said the group’s work was critical if Clinton opts to run in 2016.

“Hillary Clinton had to give up her political operation while she was making us proud, representing us around the world as an incredible Secretary of State, and that’s why Ready for Hillary is so critical,” McCaskill said.

“It’s important that we start early, building a grassroots army from the ground up, and effectively using the tools of the Internet – all things that President Obama did so successfully – so that if Hillary does decide to run, we’ll be ready to help her win.”

McCaskill commended Ready for Hillary for reaching out to Obama supporters from 2008.

“We can all agree today that there is nobody better equipped to be our next President than Hillary Clinton,” she said.

By endorsing Ready for Hillary, McCaskill took what is certain to be a high-profile step to get right with Clinton. In 2008, the Democratic caucus in the Senate was split between the two senators — Obama and Clinton — and bad feelings soon emerged.

The move also is another example of McCaskill’s penchant for well-timed moves that have impact.